Putin's Victory Day speech in full as war-mad despot claims Russia is 'indestructible'

Russia's Victory Day parade took place in Moscow's Red Square, and despotic leader Vladimir Putin stood in front of the watching world and gave a bold (and egotistical) speech

Russian President Vladimir Putin's Victory Day speech has been revealed in full – and it's filled with bold claims and overhyped patriotism.

Russia marked the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two with a massive military parade on Red Square this morning, and it was attended by the Russian despot and a slew of foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The parade – a chance for Putin to show off some old, rusted Soviet weaponry – gives Russians a chance to remember a staggering 27 million people who were killed in what it calls the Great Patriotic War in 1941-45.

Putin led the parade with a speech about how wonderful Russia is, and how “indestructible” the country is – despite losing more than one million men to his invasion of Ukraine. He also said "dear friends" . . . a lot.

Here's his speech in full:

"Dear citizens of Russia! Dear veterans! Esteemed guests! Comrade soldiers and sailors, sergeants and petty officers, midshipmen and ensigns! Comrade officers, generals and admirals!

"I congratulate you on the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War!

"Today, we are all united by feelings of joy and sorrow, pride and gratitude, and admiration for the generation that crushed Nazism and, at the cost of millions of lives, won freedom and peace for all of humanity.

"We faithfully preserve the memory of these historical, triumphant events. And as the heirs of the victors, we celebrate the holiday of May 9 as our own, as the most important for the country, for the entire nation, for each family, for each of us.

"Our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers saved the Fatherland. And they bequeathed to us to defend the Motherland, to be united, to firmly defend our national interests, our thousand-year history, culture, traditional values. Everything that is dear to us, that is sacred to us.

"We remember the lessons of the Second World War and will never agree with the distortion of its events, with attempts to justify the executioners and slander the true victors.

"Our duty is to defend the honor of the soldiers and commanders of the Red Army, the great feat of representatives of different nationalities, who will forever remain in world history as Russian soldiers.

"Russia has been and will be an indestructible barrier to Nazism, Russophobia, anti-Semitism, and will fight the atrocities committed by the proponents of these aggressive, destructive ideas.

"Truth and justice are on our side. The entire country, society, and people support the participants of the special military operation. We are proud of their courage and determination, that strength of spirit that has always brought us only victory.

"Dear friends!

"The Soviet Union took upon itself the most ferocious, merciless blows of the enemy. Millions of people who knew only peaceful labor, took up arms and stood to the death on all heights, bridgeheads and borders, determined the outcome of the entire Second World War with unconditional victories in the largest battles near Moscow and Stalingrad, on the Kursk Bulge and the Dnieper; the courage of the defenders of Belarus, who were the first to meet the enemy; the steadfastness of the participants in the defense of the Brest Fortress and Mogilev, Odessa and Sevastopol, Murmansk, Tula, Smolensk; the heroism of the residents of besieged Leningrad, the courage of all who fought at the front, in partisan detachments and underground, the valor of those who evacuated the country's factories under enemy fire, who worked in the rear without sparing themselves, at the limit of their strength.

"The Nazis' plans to seize the Soviet Union were shattered by the country's truly iron unity. The heroism of the people was massive, all the republics bore the common, heavy burden of war.

"The contribution of the inhabitants of Central Asia and Transcaucasia was enormous. From here, trains with everything the front needed were constantly moving. Hospitals were located here and hundreds of thousands of evacuees found their second home. They shared shelter, bread, and warmth with them.

"We honor every veteran of the Great Patriotic War, we bow our heads before the memory of all who gave their lives for the Victory. Before the memory of sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, relatives, friends.

"We bow our heads before our comrades in arms who died a heroic death in a righteous battle for Russia.

"A minute of silence is declared.

"Dear friends!

"Almost 80 percent of the planet's population was drawn into the fiery orbit of World War II.

"The complete defeat of Nazi Germany, militaristic Japan, and their satellites in different regions of the world was achieved through the joint efforts of the countries of the United Nations.

"We will always remember that the opening of the second front in Europe - after the decisive battles on the territory of the Soviet Union - brought Victory closer. We highly value the contribution to our common struggle of the soldiers of the allied armies, the participants of the Resistance, the courageous people of China. All those who fought for a peaceful future.

"Dear friends!

"We will continue to look up to veterans, their sincere love for the Motherland, their determination to defend their homeland, the values of humanism and justice. We will give these traditions, this great heritage the most important thing in our hearts and pass it on to future generations.

"We will always rely on our unity in military and peaceful affairs, in achieving strategic goals, in solving problems in the name of Russia, its greatness and prosperity.

"Glory to the victorious people! Happy Holidays! Happy Great Victory Day! Hooray!"

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